Barcspring2013

Bringing Back the Bay Spring 2013

Spring 2013 │ Number 78 The Newsletter of the Bay Area Restoration Council

The Bay Area Restoration Council represents the public interest in efforts to revitalize Hamilton Harbour and its watershed.

Although our waterfront outreach centre—the Bay-

Space—was relatively quiet this winter, BARC was

just as busy as ever reaching out to the community by

bringing our programming to local library branches.

But now with the onset of spring, we are excited to

throw the doors to the BaySpace wide open to the

public once again!

There will be new additions to the BaySpace on dis-

play this year: an example of a growing classroom

mini marsh, BARC’s special award winning project

from the Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair

(BASEF), “Evading Erosion” and two new Harbour-

related displays. And accompanying our spring out-

reach at the BaySpace, our newest programs: Water

School and the Mini Invertebrate Lab.

Water School - in partnership with Green Venture

and the Hamilton Waterfront Trust - will engage

grade 6 and 7 students in hands-on activities related

to Hamilton Harbour and water protection in general.

Participants will take a field trip to the BaySpace and

take part in presentations and activities. During this

fun event, students will learn about the history of

Hamilton Harbour, restoration efforts and what indi-

viduals can do to improve Harbour health. Work-

shops will include art projects, hands-on demonstra-

tions by our partner organization, Green Venture and

a tour on the Hamilton waterfront trolley. This pro-

gram will give participants the unique opportunity to

see Hamilton Harbour first hand.

The Mini Invertebrate lab will be open to the public

and engage all ages through a fun-filled invertebrate

identification lab and display. In this family-friendly

program, participants will have the opportunity to

examine a number of live aquatic invertebrate speci-

mens in detail, learn how to identify species using an

invertebrate key, learn about their ecology, habitat

and the importance of keeping the creeks and rivers

they call home clean and healthy. The goal of the pro-

gram is to familiarize participants with some of the

smallest lesser-known creatures of the watershed and

to link their presence or absence in a creek to water

quality.

Interested in participating in one of our invert labs?

Join us at the BaySpace at the new HWT Centre on

Discovery Drive. Labs will run on June 8, June 22 and

July 20 from 10am-1pm.

The BaySpace is an exciting new endeavor for BARC.

We are so pleased to be able to deliver Harbour and

watershed-related events and programming to a

greater number of individuals in the community and

to have a venue from which the public can have im-

mediate access to information regarding Harbour-

related issues and the progress of the Hamilton Har-

bour Remedial Action Plan.

Full Steam Ahead for BARC’s Newest Outreach Programs by Ilona Feldmann, Outreach Coordinator

2 Spring 2013 Bringing Back the Bay

BAY AREA RESTORATION COUNCIL

Life Sciences Building – B130F

1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1

(905) 527-7111 • [email protected]

HamiltonHarbour.ca

EXECUTIVE

Scott Koblyk, President

Martin Keller, Vice President

Victor Cairns, Treasurer

STAFF

Chris McLaughlin, Executive Director

Kelly Pike, Program Manager

Sheila Whaley, Administration & Finance Coordinator

Ilona Feldmann, Outreach Coordinator

Environment Environnment Canada Canada

This Project was undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Department of the

Environment.

Ce Projet a été réalisé avec l’appui financier du Gouvernement du Canada agissant par l’entremise du Ministère de l’Environnement.

Bringing Back the Bay is published four times per year.

Articles in this newsletter reflect the views of the

individual contributors. Your comments and letters to

the editor are encouraged.

Funding for this newsletter generously provided by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment.

Come explore the creepy-crawly creatures of our watershed at The Bay Area Restoration Council’s

Mini Invertebrate Lab

Attend this fun-filled FREE event at the new HWT Centre (57 Discovery Drive, Hamilton) and learn about some of the lesser-known creatures found in our

streams and creeks!

Examine a number of LIVE aquatic invertebrate specimens in detail Learn how to identify species using an invertebrate key

Learn about their ecology, habitat and the importance of keeping the creeks and rivers they call home clean and healthy

June 8th, June 22nd and July 13th 2013, 10am-1pm

This is a drop-in program; no registration is required

For more information call 905 527 7111 or email Ilona Feldmann at [email protected]

Bringing Back the Bay Spring 2013 3

samples will provide a detailed record of E.coli lev-

els in our harbour and contribute to ongoing beach

management plans.

During my undergraduate studies at McMaster, I

worked as a Teaching Assistant in the Department

of Biology. It is so nice to return to my old stomping

grounds and once again be involved in the educa-

tion of ecology and environmentally related topics.

My work at BARC will include community outreach

programs including Yellow Fish RoadTM, Stream of

DreamsTM, Water School, Earth Day Ecofestival and

Children’s Water Festival.

I’d like to express my many thanks to Chris

McLaughlin, Kelly Pike, Ilona Feldmann and Bruce

Newbold for giving me this opportunity to be in-

volved with such meaningful work with BARC and

McMaster University.

I would like to start by introducing myself and ex-

press how excited I am to be a part of the BARC

team this summer. I am looking forward to enhanc-

ing my skills through the variety of exciting pro-

g r a m s t h a t B A R C f a c i l i t a t e s .

I am originally from Hamilton and have always

loved exploring the many trails and natural spaces

the city has to offer. My interest in the environment

and its many inhabitants led me to complete my un-

dergraduate degree in Biology at McMaster Univer-

sity. I continued my studies part-time over the past

two years and recently graduated with a second de-

gree in Geography. I think it is critical to understand

both the scientific and social aspects of environ-

mental issues in order to successfully make progress

and accomplish change.

Aside from conservation biology, another great in-

terest of mine is travelling; the diversity of our

planet never ceases to amaze me. A few years ago, I

was very fortunate to travel to Costa Rica on a

McMaster Biology field course to explore and learn

about terrestrial ecosystems. The hands-on learning

style with the breathtaking backdrop of the Costa

Rican rainforest not only reaffirmed my passion for

conservation efforts but also, expanded my appre-

ciation for such precious habitats and furthered my

understanding of why it is so important to protect

them.

Other fieldwork I have been involved with took

place in Algonquin Park where I was part of a team

who studied the aquatic integrity of a large freshwa-

ter lake, Lake Opeongo. I periodically collected and

tested water samples from various entry points and

monitored fluctuations in nutrient concentrations

that entered this freshwater body. This summer,

part of my role with BARC will be to collect runoff

samples at Hamilton Bayfront beach for an ongoing

project in collaboration with the Canadian Centre

for Inland Waters and McMaster University. These

BARC’s 2013 Summer Intern by Vanessa Mestre, BARC Summer Intern


Image: National Film Board of Canada / Primitive Entertainment

It’s easy to overlook something in your own back

yard. How often have you spoken with someone

from Toronto who’s never visited the CN Tower or

the ROM, or from Hamilton who’s never been to

Dundurn Castle, or to the Steam Museum? We seem

to be more interested in things that are far off. Per-

haps they seem more exotic, rarer, more elusive.

What could be more amazing, though, than a place

in Ontario where some 1,000 years ago people con-

gregated in the summer to gather food and share in

some of the first agriculture practices in the prov-

ince, and where 9,000 years before that, people were

hunting and fishing, shortly after the retreat of the

glaciers? A place that is listed as an Important Bird

Area, an Important Amphibian and Reptile Area, an

Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, and is even

scheduled in the Ontario Endangered Species Act as

critical habitat for endangered plants? And that this

place is right in the heart of the Hamilton-Burlington

conurbation? A place protected by amazing fore-

sight and the work of civic leaders like Thomas

Baker McQuesten and groups like the Hamilton Bird

Protection Society? A place where for the first time

ever, Bald Eagles have come to nest and raise chicks

along this part of the Lake Ontario shore?

This place is, of course, Cootes Paradise Marsh and

the surrounding terrestrial lands that together are

the nature sanctuaries owned and managed by

Royal Botanical Gardens. The more we look into

these amazing properties the more stories there are

to tell, of rich natural and cultural heritage, and of

communities today that make use of this green

space as an important part of a healthy urban life.

Research in the past decade has led to the descrip-

tion of these lands as the plant biodiversity hotspot

for all of Canada, because such a large proportion of

the plant species of the country is growing wild in

these wetlands, prairie, and forested habitats.

As wonderful as these lands are, the reality too is

that they are fragmented, and land-locked by grow-

ing urban areas. Habitat fragmentation is a major

threat to biodiversity at all levels. Even though the

RBG nature sanctuaries seem large, covering more

than 900 hectares, we also know that they have lost

plant species over the past half-century, most likely

because of the effects of fragmentation.

Is it possible to “fight the fragmentation?” I believe

that some of the effects of fragmentation can be op-

posed if good planning can be applied. For more

than 20 years people have been working toward en-

suring that ecological corridors in our area are rec-

ognized, protected, and strengthened, precisely to

help support life within the patches of intact habitat

we still have. That effort has led over time to the de-

velopment of the proposal for the Cootes to Escarp-

ment Ecopark System, a permanent collaboration or

network of natural areas and recreational trails that

includes RBG’s natural lands as well as properties

owned by the other participating agencies: the City

of Hamilton, City of Burlington, Halton Region, the

Hamilton Conservation Authority, Conservation

Halton, the Bruce Trail Conservancy, the Hamilton

Naturalists’ Club, and McMaster University (with

great support from the Hamilton Harbour Remedial

Action Plan Office).

Agreeing to form the ecopark system is a voluntary

step for these agencies. The goal is to work better

together to conserve and restore natural areas and

also to provide for better recreational experiences on

our respective trails. Following lots of input from

the public and stakeholders, in 2009 the participants

formulated a vision for the Ecopark system:

Our vision for the Cootes to Escarpment Eco-

park System is that it will be known interna-

tionally as a protected, permanent and con-

nected natural lands sanctuary from the Har-

bour to the Escarpment that promotes eco-

system and human health within Ontario’s

Greenbelt.

A Green Gem Indeed

by David Galbraith, Head of Science, Royal Botanical Gardens

Chair, Steering Committee, Cootes to Escarpment Ecopark System Project


This vision continues to guide the development of

the ecopark system, through an extensive strategic

plan. Although the development of this Ecopark sys-

tem has been, until 2013, a “project,” we are now

close to being able to formalize its existence through

an agreement among the participating agencies.

There’s already been terrific progress on cooperation

on trails and other management issues, and in both

Hamilton and Burlington new lands have been

added to the ecopark system through purchases or

donations in 2013. In Hamilton the Hamilton Con-

servation Authority Foundation has launched a

campaign for fund-raising for both land purchases

and also the remediation of HCA property along the

Desjardins Canal. The Ecopark Campaign has al-

ready resulted in the purchase of the York Road

Acreage, about 50 acres adjacent to RBG’s North

Shore nature sanctuary. In Burlington the Holland

Family has made a very generous donation of 37

acres of open space to the city, for inclusion under

the umbrella of the Ecopark system.

We are looking forward to progress on the vision,

and to making this vision a reality. The founders of

RBG had amazing foresight in the 1920s to protect

Cootes Paradise Marsh and its surroundings, and

the Grindstone Creek Valley in Aldershot, too. To-

day we are seeking to keep that vision alive, and en-

sure that generations to come see our area as a

healthy, sustainable, and enjoyable place to live,

work, and raise families, with connection to the na-

ture that is right in our own area.

Sources

Galbraith, D. A., Iwanycki, N. E., McGoey, B. V., McGregor, J.,

Pringle, J. S., Rothfels, C. J., and Smith, T. W. 2011. The Evolving

Role of Botanical Gardens and Natural Areas: A Floristic Case

Study from Royal Botanical Gardens, Canada. Plant Diversity

and Resources 33(1): 123-131. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1143.2011.10235

Laking, Leslie (2006). Love, sweat and soil: a history of Royal

Botanical Gardens from 1930 to 1981. Hamilton, ON: Royal Bo-

tanical Gardens Auxiliary. ISBN 978-0-9691759-4-0. OCLC

64344711.

All of the reports and background documents for the Cootes to

Escarpment Ecopark System can be found on-line at: http://

www.cootestoescarpmentpark.ca

Drop in on the web site for current programs of Royal Botanical

Gardens at: http://www.rbg.ca

Staff Comings and Goings

Best Wishes to Karen Logan

Karen joined BARC as the Finance & Admini-

stration Coordinator in 2011, and has left re-

cently to free up time for other pursuits. She

has played an important part in helping to bol-

ster BARC’s internal processes and to plan

events to engage and inform the public. Karen

continues in her administrative role with the

Hamilton Industrial Environmental Associa-

tion, and we wish her all the best in semi-

retirement.

Warm Welcome to Sheila Whaley

We are excited to welcome Sheila Whaley to

the Bay Area Restoration Council team!

Sheila enjoyed a successful first career in hu-

man resources (HR) leadership, ensuring align-

ment of HR initiatives with business strategy.

She has also taught college courses in HR and

leadership.

Sheila was born in Hamilton and moved back

to the city in 2007. While supporting the local

arts' community, she has also been enjoying a

second career in local and national healthcare

education as a standardized patient with

McMaster University and the Medical Council

of Canada, as well as other healthcare profes-

sional associations.

Sheila is joining BARC as Finance & Admini-

stration Coordinator to support our mission to

restore Hamilton Harbour/Burlington Bay and

its watershed. Sheila brings with her previous

process improvement, event-delivery and not-

for-profit volunteer experience, including con-

tributing significantly to the success of the 2013

BARC Waterfront Dinner.

http://www.cootestoescarpmentpark.ca

http://www.cootestoescarpmentpark.ca

http://www.rbg.ca


RAP Office Update RAP Office

Canada Centre for Inland Waters 867 Lakeshore Road, Box 5050 Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6 905-336-6279

A Phosphorus & Sediment Reduced Diet

John D. Hall MCIP, RPP

Hamilton Harbour RAP Coordinator

How do we put the Harbour on a phosphorus and

sediment reduced diet? That was the question for

the Bay Area Implementation Team (BAIT).

On April 24, a Watershed Runoff Workshop was

held with staff from BAIT agencies. Representatives

from our municipalities, Conservation Authorities,

Royal Botanical Gardens, federal and provincial

governments, along with several outside consultants

spent the day developing work plan ideas to guide

the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan

(HHRAP) over the next five years.

As I wrote in the last issue, we need to cut the phos-

phorus going into the Harbour in half. Meeting that

reduction target through direct discharges such as

wastewater treatment plants, while expensive, is

relatively straight forward to predict, implement,

and monitor. By comparison making those same

reductions from the watershed is hard to predict,

implement, and monitor. Why? Because the water-

shed is vast in comparison, unstructured, and its

flows fluctuate with rainfall and snow melt.

So what do you think we should do in the water-

shed to help the Harbour with this new diet? Here

are some things to consider.

About 50% of the flow entering HH comes

from three wastewater treatment plants

About 50% of the flow comes from the wa-

tershed through three main creek systems

Major Non Point Watershed Sources of Phosphorus

Urban

Storm sewer systems (don’t create phospho-

rus but convey it e.g. when you wash your

car in your driveway)

Cross connections between sanitary sewers

and storm sewers

Turf fertilizer

Others: feeding waterfowl, etc.

Rural

Agricultural fields and operations

Golf courses

Others: nurseries, livestock, racetracks, etc.

Major Non Point Sources of Sediment

Construction sites

Erosion of stream channels

Agricultural fields

Urban street runoff

Why focus on sediment? Sediment can occlude

sunlight, bury plants and fish eggs, and can carry

contaminants and phosphorus.

But it is not just the sources of sediment and phos-

phorus. It is the way it enters the Harbour with run-

off. Every time it rains a new pulse arrives. These

pulses can tip the balance in water quality. It’s a bit

like binge drinking. One drink a day may be good

for our health. Have seven drinks on one day and

you can damage your health. The average over the

week is the same but the results are quite different.

The Harbour may be able to cope with the average

phosphorus any particular week but one pulse of

runoff high in phosphorus and sediment may start a

chain reaction of poor water quality effects. Similar

to what can happen to our health if we have a bad

air quality event, particularly if we are in a vulner-

able state, and our Harbour is in a vulnerable state.

From our watersheds the daily phosphorus loads

can range from 0.1 kilograms per day to potentially

over 2,000 kg/d. Compare this with a normal aver-

age daily loading (2007) of approximately 170 kg/d

from the three WWTPs.


Congratulations to BARC’s

BASEF Winner! by Ilona Feldmann, Outreach Coordinator

So there you have it. How we put the Harbour on a

diet is being worked on by our BAIT and I will re-

port back in the next issue and let you know what is

proposed in our five-year work plan.

BARC is very pleased to introduce to the environ-

mental community the recipient of the Bay Area

Restoration Council’s Special Award at this year’s

Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF),

Graham Bohm from St. Augustine school in Dundas.

With such a relevant and important research topic,

thorough methodology and attractive presentation,

Graham’s project, “Evading Erosion” perfectly re-

flected our special award criteria: best environ-

mental or life science project that contributes to re-

search, protection, conservation, restoration or

awareness in the Bay Area. The objective of his pro-

ject was to determine which type of coastal plant

would best prevent shoreline erosion during an ex-

treme weather event.

In addition to a cash prize, Graham will have the

opportunity to showcase his project during one of

our spring/summer workshops and display his re-

search for the next few months at our outreach cen-

tre, the BaySpace.

Congratulations Graham and we look forward to

great things from you in the future!

Thank You to

Alternate Choice Inc! by Kelly Pike, Program Manager

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Gary

Kirkwood and the staff at Alternate Choice

Inc. Gary’s team is cutting and priming all of

the fish for the Stream of Dreams™ program

in 2013. This is a task usually tackled by par-

ticipating schools. It is time consuming and

can be a barrier to some schools who wish to

participate in the program. Three schools and

several summer camps will participate in

Stream of Dreams™ this year. Three cheers

for Alternate Choice Inc!

Corporate Support Provided By


SAVE THE DATE!

Spring Workshop & Annual General Meeting

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

HWT Centre, 57 Discovery Drive, Hamilton

6:30pm - 7:30pm—Spring Workshop

A Tale of Two Cities: Stormwater Management in Hamilton and Kitchener

A discussion with Brian McHattie (Councilor, City of Hamilton) and Nick Gollan (Manager,

Stormwater Utility, City of Kitchener) on the challenges of municipal stormwater management. The

purpose of this event is to learn about Kitchener’s recent experience with changes in how that city deals

with stormwater management issues, and hold a constructive conversation in the context of the

Hamilton Harbour community’s goals for the Hamilton Harbour Remedial Action Plan.

7:45pm - 8:45pm Annual General Meeting

Refreshments at 6:15pm. Space is limited, please RSVP to [email protected]

or by calling 905-527-7111

Become a Supporting Member!

YES! I support the restoration of Hamilton Harbour and its watershed. Name: ______________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________

City: _________________________ Postal Code: ___________

Phone: _______________________

I am applying as a representative of: ______________________

I wish to be a non-voting member

Email: _______________________________________________

Bringing Back the Bay Newsletters will be delivered electronically to the email

address provided unless we are otherwise contacted.

$200 $100 $50

$30 $ ______

Thank you for your generous support. Please note that receipts can only be

issued for donations over $10. Charitable Registration Number:

89293 6584 RR0001

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